Critics of new bridge design warn it may lead to more pedestrian accidents.
Local Los Angeles lawmakers recently lent their support to a controversial plan involving the redesign of a historic bridge linking the communities of Silver Lake and Atwater Village. Critics of the plan say that the competing interests of all who share the roadway—drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians—are not being fairly balanced and this could even lead to increased risk of pedestrian accidents.
What’s Wrong with the Bridge?
The roughly 80-year-old Glendale-Hyperion Bridge requires a major makeover for safety reasons. The bridge was not built up to current seismic standards, and in its current condition it would likely suffer serious damage in the event of an earthquake. Other major concerns include the fact that the bridge lacks bicycle lanes and, while it does have sidewalks, these sidewalks are very narrow cannot be used safely by certain disabled individuals.
What’s Wrong with the Proposed Redesign?
The proposed redesign of the bridge recommended by city engineers will include $50 million in seismic safety retrofits, new bike lanes, and wider sidewalks on one side of the bridge. Some community activists take issue with the single-sidewalk design, fearing that pedestrians on the side without a sidewalk would be likely to either cut across traffic unsafely to reach other side or else simply walk in the bike lanes or traffic lanes instead. Critics are especially concerned about the Atwater Village teens who routinely use the bridge to reach Marshall High on the other side. As an alternative, they presented a plan that would include two sidewalks but only three lanes of traffic.
Which is Better for Pedestrian Safety?
Numerous studies have shown that street design has a tremendous impact on pedestrian safety. Adding features that physically separate sidewalks from traffic or require motorists to slow down has shown great potential in trials done in European cities.
Unfortunately, safer streets for pedestrians is often a secondary concern behind speedy streets for drivers. In this case, proponents of the single-sidewalk design used the fact that only 106 pedestrians crossed the bridge in one 12-hour day as proof that sidewalks were not really an important or desired feature of the bridge.
This attitude seems pretty callous. Even if the bridge is lightly traveled by pedestrians, those pedestrians that do use the bridge deserve a safe walkway. Even one pedestrian accident due to unsafe sidewalks would be too many in this attorney’s opinion.
What Should Pedestrians Do?
The sad reality of the matter is that many of LA’s streets are not geared towards pedestrian safety. It then falls upon each individual pedestrian to take responsibility for their own safety and to be extra vigilant in obeying all traffic laws.
Of course, even the most cautious pedestrian could be injured when a driver is not paying attention to the road. If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident, it is extremely important to contact a skilled attorney such as Fernando D. Vargas right away. Attorney Vargas can help you hold negligent drivers responsible for their actions so that you can receive fair compensation for your injuries.
